West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-12-29

'hS van IN inc mldSt OF the OfnCerS, the
next, and he was free, tearing down the
street with the police and the populace
AT ms heels. He was seen TO dodge down
a back alley, known as Shut ane, and
followed by the crowd of several hun
dreds. At the end of Shut Lane he dis
appeared round a corner, and, strange to
say, has not been seen again. There can be
no doubt that he will be rcvaptured.
but his present escape and disappearance
are most mysterious. We understand
that the fellow posse ,ses singular strength
and agility; but none the less, il will be
a standing disgrace to our police authori-
ties that a prisoner should thus, i'm broad
daylight, and in the midst of a crowded
thoroughfare effect his escape from
the very hands of Justice A reward Of
one hundred pounds has been offered for
ms apprehension. Watson is about
five feet nine inches in height, strongly
built, and when he escaped was dressed
IN gray fustian suit with a red scarf
and soft hat. He may further be dis
ungmshed by scar across his chin, and
by having an arrow tatooed on the back
of his left hand
This was about the extent of the infor-
nation contained in the paragraph. and
my readers will agree with me that the
news was sufficiently exciting to occupy
my thoughts TO the complete exclusion
OF the unpleasant experience | had lust
passed through. AS | lay back in my
seat to muse upon what had read, my
thoughts began after awhile to wander
and my head to nod, according TO their
won't at midnight, and before long / fell
asleep. How lCug slept / cannot tell.
probably for a few minutes only but in
those few moments underwent a most
discomfor,ing dream | dreamt that
Chippy Watson stood over me, mallet in
hand, ani that my t,avcliug companion
was holding his arm, to avert the threat
encl blow. She struggled in vain. and
the mallet fell-yet with a strangely
light touch-upon my arm. With a
start, | awoke, and then saw the girl Of
my dream bending toward me with
scrap OF paper in her hand
But her face, how terribly was IL
changed Instead of the dainty pink
flush had last seen, there was ghastly
whitencss in her checks, and her ewes
seemed starting from her head with
terror. Holding up one finger, as If to
command silence, she passed me the
paper, on which were written the fol-
lowing words:
'SOme one is underneath the seat, and
has Just touched me"
Was it the dream which filed me with
the thought that this was an idle alarm2
! cannot tell but this mech know. that
In an instant thre flashed across my mind
with overwhelming force the thought of
the escaped wife murderer.
Returning my com anion's silence.sig.
nal by gesture of acquicsccnce, wrote
upon the paper:
''lt is probably only dog. Shall 1
look under the scatl"
Her answer was short and to the
point:
"No do not look 1t was hand"
Here, then, was sufficient dilemma /:
but by comparison with what had passed
before between my fellow passenger and
myself, it was a dilemma that / felt al
most disposed to welcome. The male
sex IN my person was about to assume its
rightful position of protector TO its
weaker, If would be independent com
panion. Sweet was my revenge and vet.
the revenge scarcely promised to be
wholly pleasurable.
My first acton was to remove any sus-
picion that there might be in the mind
oi the mysterious third occupant of our
carriage through the presumably acci-
dental action of having touched the
lady's dress. Giving vent to an audible
yawn. as though had just awakened
from sleep, l remarked, in a tone of cool
impcrtincrce:
You really must excuse me for adj
dressing you again, madam, but will YOU
permit me 10 smoke, 20 enliven this tc-
dious journey"
AZ 4 cnoEn I orc,,,,..s.l
by meaning glance, and was favored
with the reply:
Certainty if you wish it; I cannot
prevent youn
Thertupon ] produced my pipe and
tobacco pouch and proceeded slowly to
MI the former, rs thought out the plan
OF action. On reference to my watch 7
saw that the trUn would stop in another
ten minutes Clearly, the only thing to
do was 20 wait till we reached Black.
Icy, and there get asst 60 find out
who our unknown travelling companion
might be.
The longer ! pondered over the prob
lem. the more curious for It's solution did
! become. and then, needless Of the warn
ing had received, ! struck a match and
Intentionally dropped it..
StOop ng down, with n muttered NAL
cdiction, 10 pick it mp / cast search
ing glance underneath the opposite scat.
and then my blood ran cold. as the faint
elca p Of the taper revealed the back Of
n mans hand with tho mark Of a tattocd
arrow upon it.
Chippy Watson then was our com
panion doomed and desperate mani
By q mighty effort J controlled my
voice sufficiently TO say
Excuse my reaching across you.
madam. but that was my last match.
and J could not afford TO let 10 go ont. 8"
The girl, into whose white checks the
color showed no trace Of returning. muir
INJURED some unintcl!igiblc reply, and for
few moments we sat in silence.
Again J looked at my watch. Thank
Heaven, in five minutes we should be at
Blackley, and theawful ride would be ut
an end. Scarcely had the thought
formulated itself when the girl Oh.
posite me sprang up, trembling like "a
leaf, and skriekcd. crc could stop her
'Oh, the hand has touched my foot
againw
The moment the words left her lips 7
heard sudden movement under the Seat.
and qu cker than thought figure ap.
pcared urOn the floor ln that moment